Hospital for Special Surgery, the number one hospital for orthopedics in the nation, held its 30th Annual Tribute Dinner on Monday, June 17, 2013 at The Waldorf=Astoria.

The event, which raised more than $2.5 million and had more than 1,000 guests, was hosted by Brian Williams, anchor and Managing Editor of NBC Nightly News and Rock Center. The City of New York was honored, with Mayor Michael Bloomberg accepting the award on the City's behalf. Dr. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, Chief of the Scoliosis Service, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Founded in 1863, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation. HSS is nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics, No. 3 in rheumatology, No. 10 in neurology and No. 5 in geriatrics by U.S. News & World Report (2012-13), and is the first hospital in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center three consecutive times. HSS has one of the lowest infection rates in the country. From 2007 to 2011, HSS has been a recipient of the HealthGrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award. HSS is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College and as such all Hospital for Special Surgery medical staff are faculty of Weill Cornell. The hospital's research division is internationally recognized as a leader in the investigation of musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases.

Last Saturday night's 13th Annual Midsummer Night Drinks nearly 500 friends and supporters gathered at Villa Maria, the stunning Water Mill home of Vince and Louise Camuto, for a wonderful evening of fun, food and cocktails, all benefiting God's Love We Deliver. This signature event supports one of New York City's most beloved charities, the only organization of its kind that cooks and home delivers nutritious meals to clients living with severe illnesses, their children and senior caregivers.

Guests were invited to enjoy a smorgasbord of Swedish specialties by chef Görgen Tidén.

Gods Love Staff

Throughout the evening, in between dining, laughing and talking, guests also enjoyed coffee from RED THREAD GOOD Coffee, a new sponsor of God's Love, and microgreens from Koppert Cress USA.

Delicious butlered hors d'oeuvres such as summer vegetable rolls, croque-monsieurs and steak frites were catered by Canard, Inc. along with a variety of one-bite burgers and sweets such as toffee pecan brownies and mini lemon ice cream cones. Pernod Ricard USA generously donated all beverages at the bar including the event's specialty drinks, Absolut® Madras, Absolut® Red Thread Good Dreamy Chocolate Almond Cocktail and Absolut® Citron Lemonade, all delicious concoctions for the warm summer evening. Guests danced the night away to the music compiled and spun by DJ Karin Ward.

Last Monday, nearly 300 supporters of The Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia and Parkinson Foundation gathered at Century Country Club in Purchase, New York for the organization's 21st Annual Dystonia and Parkinson's Golf Invitational. The event raised more than $1.3 million to help find better treatments and cures for dystonia and Parkinson's disease. Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder that causes uncontrollable, painful muscle contractions and spasms. Closely related to Parkinson's disease, it affects an estimated 500,000 people in North America – more than Huntington's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease and muscular dystrophy combined.

Willie Geist, co-host of NBC's Today and MSNBC's Morning Joe, served as emcee of the event that honored his father Bill Geist, a long-serving CBS news correspondent who announced, last year, that he was living with Parkinson's disease. BlackRock, Inc. was this year's corporate chair.

Jody Geist, Bill Geist, Willie Geist, Bonnie Strauss, and Paula Stein

The Foundation has raised more than $30 million to provide seed money to scientists working on over 200 projects around the world. These investments have been the catalyst for an additional $62 million in research funding from the NIH.
Katie Loeb, a member of the Young Leadership Council, whose grandfather has Parkinson's, was recognized for her extraordinary enthusiasm and dedication in helping raise funds and public awareness about dystonia and Parkinson's disease. She was presented with the Foundation's Scott M. Johnson Memorial Award named in honor of a member of the Young Leadership Council who lost his life on September 11th.

Strauss concluded the evening by thanking all those who attended the event. She added, "Our work would not be possible without the generous support of our friends, donors, sponsors and incredible staff. Each has been a remarkable pillar of hope, courage, and continuing support who have made our years of achievements in research, treatments, and clinical care possible."

The day-long event included lunch, a Pro-Am golf tournament, cocktails, dinner, and a live auction. In attendance were Mark Standish, president and co-CEO of RBC Capital Markets Corp; Morris Offit, chairman of Offit Capital; and Thomas W. Strauss, chairman of Ramius, a Cowen Group company, who announced the day's top golf winners.

Jamie Niven, chairman of Sotheby's America, once again served as auctioneer for the live auction, which featured A Decadent Dinner for 12 prepared by celebrity chef David Burke; a golf outing hosted by a club member at the esteemed Shinnecock Golf Course; and a week's vacation at the Villa Avalon in St. Barths; among other luxurious items.

Bob Joyce, Seth Goldman, Ron Hersh, Paul Bruce, and Dan London

The Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia & Parkinson Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that was established in 1995 by Louis Bachmann (1916-2000) and Bonnie Strauss in order to find better treatments and cures for the movement disorders dystonia and Parkinson's disease, and to provide medical and patient information. Key among its efforts, the Foundation funds scientific and clinical research and helps raise awareness of Parkinson's disease and dystonia among the general public and the medical community.

Stefanie Offit, Dan Offit, Ned Offit, Nancy Offit, and Morris Offit

Fran Klingenstein, Fran Ehrlich, and Karen Cohen

Allison London and Katie Loeb

Edgar Cullman and Ellie Cullman

Tish Certo, Susan Cullman, and John Kirby

On Wednesday, June 19, 2013, Central Park Conservancy brought together more than 700 guests to the annual Taste of Summer held at Bethesda Terrace. Guests came to marvel at the fusion of Central Park's beauty and New York's exquisite cuisine.

The event featured tastings prepared by New York's top restaurants, a luxury-filled silent auction and music by Alexandra Richards. The event was attended by politicians, business leaders, and New Yorkers in support of the Central Park Conservancy's mission to restore and maintain Central Park raising close to $1 million.

William Grant & Sons, a family-owned and independent distiller, was the exclusive spirits partner at this year's Taste of Summer. The night highlighted the line of handcrafted and small batch spirits in specialty cocktails using Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Reyka Vodka, and Hudson Whiskey. Solerno welcomed in the Solerno Caribeño, Reyka refreshed in the Reyka Collins, Icelandic Vesper, and Reyka Sonic, and Hudson Whiskey delighted at the "Make Your Own Manhattan" bar.

Late last month at the Pierre Hotel in NYC, over 330 guests joined WIZO New York for their 16th Annual Children for our Children Fashion Show and Luncheon, Chaired by Fortune Dushey.

WIZO, The Women’s International Zionist Organization, is a worldwide non-profit organization that operates over 800 social welfare projects in Israel. Next to the Israeli government, WIZO is one of the largest providers of social welfare services that improve the lives of women, children and the elderly living in Israel.

The fashion show, which featured looks from Brooks Brothers and was styled by designer Nikki Kule, had more than 60 children parade the runway. Before the Fashion Show the audience was addressed by Counsel General of Israel to New York, Ambassador Ido Aharoni. Fortune Dushey spoke about the critical services which WIZO provides to the neediest sector of Israeli society.

In attendance were WIZO USA Vice Presidents Caren Constantiner, Mira Sofer, and Joan Kahn who accepted an award on behalf of her granddaughter, Daisy Kahn, as well as WIZO New York Board Members and U.N. Representatives Lisa Ostad and Jackie Siegal. Daisy Kahn and Chloe Safra were recognized for their involvement in the WIZO’s B’nei Mitzvah Campaign. These young philanthropists chose to donate their gifts to WIZO, and for this were given special awards of honor.